Quick release clip



April 14, 1970 J. F. TIRONE 3,505,709

QUICK RELEASE CLIP Filed July 12, 1968 FIGS United States Patent O 3,505,709 QUICK RELEASE CLIP James F. Tirone, RR. 1, Ridgeville, Ontario, Canada Filed July 12, 1968, Ser. No. 744,383 Claims priority, applicagofilauada, Jan. 25, 1968,

Int. Cl. F21r 17/06 US. Cl. 24-81 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a clip for spacing and joining the exterior surface a body with the interior surface of a surrounding body. he invention has particular, but not exclusive, utility in the attachment of light shades and the like, to lamp holder It has become coRqmon practice to surround electric lamp bulbs with ornamental shades, coloured or otherwise, not only for p II tective purposes but for festive occasions, such as Christmas, or for advertising. Further, the availability of permanent parallel circuits, known in trade as striplights, encourage the removal of shades and lamps when not required. In the present invention there is contemplated a simple clip, which may be manufactured at a very low price, for quickly attaching lamp shades to lamp holders, or other pairs of similar devices.

It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a one-piece clip for use between an exterior surface of a first body and the interior surface of a second body surrounding the first.

In accordance With the foregoing object, the clip comprises a pair of first portions for partially embracing said first body, said first pair of portions being urged towards each other by a first spring portion connected therebetween, a pair of second portions for partially engaging the said interior surface, said second pair of portions being urged away from each other by a pair of second spring portions one each of which is connected to an associated one of said first pair of portions, all said portions being disposed in a common plane.

It is an object of another feature of the invention to provide a one-piece clip for use between a pair of substantially coaxial, coextensive and concentric bodies.

In accordance with the foregoing object the clip comprises a pair of inner arcuate portions which together substantially define arcs of a first common circle, one pair of adjacent ends of said inner arcuateportions being joined together by a resilient loop, a pair of outer arcuate portions which together substantially define arcs of a second common circle which is larger in size than said first common circle, one pair of adjacent ends of said outer arcuate portions being joined to the other pair of adjacent ends of said inner arcuate portions by a pair of resilient portions which together define a mouth at least the inner and outer arcuate portions and said mouth being disposed in a common plane A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a lamp socket to which is attached a novel clip forming the essence of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the novel clip shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lamp socket of FIG. 1, with the clip, shown in more detail in FIG. 2, applied to the fastening of an ornamental light shade.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown, and generally indicated at 1, a lamp or light socket. The precise details of the socket form no part of the present invention excepting that for convenience, but not essentially, the socket may include a groove 11.

Referring to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is shown a clip, generally indicated at 2. The clip 2 comprises a pair of first portions 21a, 21b for embracing the exterior surface of a body, for example, the light socket 1. The portions 21a and 21b are joined together by a spring portion 22 which urges both portions 21a and 21b inwardly towards the socket 1.

The free ends of the pair of first portions are individually joined to a pair of second portions 23a, 23b, in a pair of further spring portions 24a, 24b, which serve to outwardly urge to the portions 23a, 23b into contact with the interior of a surrounding body. It will be noted that porions 24a, 24b define a mouth through which the socket 1 may be forced. Portions 21a, 21b, 22, 23a, 23b, 24a, and 24b are substantially co-planar. The free ends of portions 23a, 23b may include digital grippers 25a, 25b extending out of the aforementioned plane.

Referring to FIG. 3 there is shown a lamp socket 1, alamp or light shade 3 which has been fastened to the socket by means of the novel clip 2. The lampshade 3 includes an annular top member 31 the inner surface of which is grooved as at 32 to receive the clip.

While the preferred embodiment has been described with reference to a particular configuration, it is obvious that the clip may be shaped to embrace the exterior surface of any body providing the body is suitably grooved or has a frictional surface thereon. Similarly, the clip may be shaped to engage the inner surface, grooved or frictional, of a hollow member surrounding the inner body.

Whereas the novel clip disclosed shows the use of portions which need not necessarily be resilient, it is obvious that the clip as a whole may be formed from a single piece of resilient material such as Wire, plastic, hard rubber and the like.

Other applications and embodiments, falling within the terms of the appended claims, will occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A one-piece clip for use between an exterior surface of a first body and an interior surface of a second body surrounding said first body, said clip comprising a pair of first portions for partially embracing said first body, said first pair of portions being urged towards each other by a first spring portion connected therebetween, a pair of second portions for partially engaging the said interior surface, said second pair of portions being urged away from each other by a pair of second spring portions one each of which is connected to an associated one of said first pair of portions, all said portions being disposed in a common plane.

2. A one-piece clip comprising a pair of inner arcuate portions which together substantially define arcs of a first common circle, one pair of adjacent ends of said inner arcuate portions being joined together by a resilient loop, a pair of outer arcuate portions which together substantially define arcs of a second common circle which is larger in size than said first common circle, one pair of adjacent ends of said outer arcuate portions being joined to the other pair of adjacent ends of said inner arcuate portions by a pair of resilient portions, which together define a mouth at least the inner and outer arcuate portions and said mouth being disposed in a common plane.

3. A one-piece clip as defined in claim 2 wherein the whole clip is formed of a single piece of resilient material.

4. A one-piece clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said material is wire stock.

5. A one-piece clip as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said second pair of portions further includes an extension disposed to extend out of said plane.

6. A clip as defined in claim 2 further including a pair of tabs each one being defined by an extension of a respective one of the other pair of adjacent ends of said outer arcuate portions and wherein both of said tabs extend outside said common plane, said tabs forming digital grips for resiliently deforming said outer arcuate portions inwardly towards said first common circle.

References. Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

